Robert B. Hagood, Appellant, v. UNITES STATES

District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Nos. 12–CF–148, 12–CF–389.

Decided: June 19, 2014

Before WASHINGTON, Chief Judge, FISHER, Associate Judge, and RUIZ, Senior Judge.Stefanie Schneider, Public Defender Service, with whom James Klein and Jaclyn Frankfurt, Public Defender Service, were on the brief, for appellant Hagood. Christine Pembroke filed a brief for appellant Bryant.* Stephen F. Rickard, Assistant United States Attorney, with whom Ronald C. Machen Jr., United States Attorney, Elizabeth Trosman, and Ephraim Wernick, Assistant United States Attorneys, were on the brief, for appellee.

Robert Hagood1 and Marquet Bryant2 were convicted after a jury trial of attempted first degree burglary while armed,3 assault with a dangerous weapon (“ADW”),4 and related weapons charges: two counts each of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence (“PFCV”)5 —one related to the attempted burglary and one to the ADW—as well as one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm6 and carrying a pistol without a license (“CPWL”).7 Hagood was also convicted of malicious destruction of property,8 but Bryant was acquitted of that charge. Both appellants appeal their convictions alleging that the trial court erred in failing to sua sponte give the jury a special unanimity instruction and that their PFCV convictions merge. Bryant raises additional trial-related claims and challenges the legality of his CPWL conviction. We agree with appellants that a special unanimity instruction should have been given, but conclude that, under plain error review, reversal is not warranted on the facts of their cases. We further conclude that appellants' PFCV convictions merge, and remand the cases so that the trial court may vacate one of those convictions and resentence appellants as the court, in its discretion, may find appropriate. We otherwise affirm the convictions.

I.

The government presented evidence that on November 24, 2010, Tiffany Bostic, her children, her boyfriend Jerome Edmonds, her mother Lawana Mays, her sister Taneil Mays, and her stepfather David Marshall, were gathered at Bostic's house in preparation to go to her aunt's house for a Thanksgiving celebration. Edmonds left the apartment to purchase cigarettes. On the way to his car, he passed appellants Bryant and Hagood who were standing with others on the sidewalk outside the apartment building. As Edmonds passed, Hagood said, “Look at this suck ass nigger right here.” Edmonds ignored the comment and continued on his way to purchase cigarettes. On his return to the apartment, Edmonds again passed by the group and heard Hagood say, “Look at this bitch ass thing right here.” Edmonds confronted Hagood and told him, “If you have something to say to me, you can say it to me; we grown, we're men.” At this point, Edmonds testified, he saw Bryant pull a silver revolver from his waistband and hand it to Hagood.9

Seeing the gun, Edmonds began to back up the steps toward the door to Bostic's apartment saying “everything cool, you got it” as a manner of offering a “truce.” As Edmonds backed through the door, he and Bostic attempted to close it, but Hagood rushed to the door, threw his shoulder into it to keep it open, and forced his head, arm, and the gun through the open portion. The occupants of the apartment were able to push Hagood out and close the door. They heard a couple of kicks delivered to the door and then a gunshot seconds later. The bullet traveled through the bottom portion of the door and grazed Edmonds's ankle. None of the witnesses saw Bryant at the door. The occupants called 911, but because the call was labeled as a destruction of property complaint, it was not given priority.

Marshall went to shut the blinds on the windows at the back of the apartment soon after the altercation at the front door and saw Hagood, Bryant, and other men standing on the patio below the apartment's balcony. Hagood raised his arm above his head and made a beckoning motion. Marshall responded by drawing his flat right hand from left to right under his chin and around his neck to indicate to Hagood that any chance to explain “was dead, it's too late to explain,” and shut the blinds.

A few minutes after this exchange, while the occupants were calling 911 again, appellants returned to the front of the apartment. At that point, Hagood walked in through the front door and said, “What's up?” to Edmonds.10 Edmonds immediately rushed forward and pinned Hagood against the wall. Meanwhile, Bryant stood at the doorway with the revolver in his hand.11 Marshall and Lawana Mays pushed Bryant back into the hallway. Bryant then raised the gun above his head and fired once into the ceiling. The occupants retreated inside and Hagood and Bryant departed. When Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived a few minutes later, they encountered a scene where everyone was “very upset.” The police recovered a bullet from inside the apartment, but could not recover a bullet from the hall ceiling. They also recovered a blue hat with a green bill from the hallway in front of the apartment door. Edmonds and Taneil Mays identified the hat at trial as belonging to Hagood.

The police detained Bryant and Hagood a few days later. They were identified by Bostic and Edmonds, and were placed under arrest. The revolver was recovered later from a third party.12

At trial, Hagood presented one witness, Michelle Burrell—also known as “Shellie”—who testified that she witnessed Edmonds say something to Hagood in passing, but she denied seeing a gun or restraining Hagood.13 She stated that she left the apartment complex and while walking to a friend's house heard “like one or two shots, and everybody just ran,” including Hagood and Bryant. Bryant did not put on any evidence.

Appellants argued in closing that the complaining witnesses had fabricated the entire event. Pointing to inconsistencies in the witnesses' testimony, background conversations on the 911 calls, and the fact that Edmonds was on probation and “can go back to prison if he's found to be involved in gunplay,” Bryant argued that the occupants had “a lot of time to sit there and decide what happened, to concoct a story of what they're going to tell the police․” Likewise, Hagood argued that because Edmonds was on probation and did not like Hagood,14 Edmonds “put whatever happened that night” on Hagood. Neither appellant offered an alternative version of exactly what happened that night, but noted that “something happened” and that the occupants were placing the blame on Hagood and Bryant.

In its final charge before releasing the jury to deliberate, the trial court gave the jury a general unanimity instruction: “In order to return a verdict, each juror must agree on the verdict. In other words, your verdicts must be unanimous.” The court did not give a special unanimity instruction that calls the jury's attention to the requirement that they must also be in unanimous agreement with respect to the underlying acts on which their verdict is based.15

During deliberations, the trial court received multiple notes from the jury. In one, the jury inquired whether the destruction of property count encompassed only damage to the door, or whether they could include damage to the ceiling as well. The court instructed the jury that only the damage to the door could be considered because it was the only item listed in the charging document. In another note, the jury inquired whether an acquittal required unanimity as was required for a guilty verdict. The court instructed the jury that they needed to be unanimous to return either a guilty or not guilty verdict.

II.

Appellants were each charged and convicted of single counts of attempted first-degree burglary while armed, ADW, CPWL, and unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as two counts each of PFCV—one related to the burglary conviction and one to the ADW conviction. On appeal, they contend that the trial court erred in failing to sua sponte provide the jury with a special unanimity instruction because the jury's verdict of guilty on each of the counts could have been grounded on either of the two incidents at the door of Bostic's apartment. Because neither appellant requested a special unanimity instruction at trial we review for plain error. See Wynn v. United States, 48 A.3d 181, 192 (D.C.2012). Under plain error review, it is appellant's burden to show error that is clear or obvious and that affected their substantial rights. See, e.g., Guevara v. United States, 77 A.3d 412, 418 (D.C.2013). If such a showing is made, the court may exercise its discretion to reverse if the error “seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” E.g., Wheeler v. United States, 930 A.2d 232, 242 (D.C.2007) (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 736, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993)).

Where a single charge “encompasses two separate incidents,” the Sixth Amendment requires that “the judge must instruct the jury that if a guilty verdict is returned the jurors must be unanimous as to which incident or incidents they find the defendant guilty.” Scarborough v. United States, 522 A.2d 869, 871 (D.C.1987) (en banc) (quoting Hawkins v. United States, 434 A.2d 446, 449 (D.C.1981)). A special unanimity instruction protects the right to a jury trial by guarding against “the possibility that some jurors might vote to convict based solely on one incident while others vote to convict solely based on the other.” Id.; see also Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 651, 111 S.Ct. 2491, 115 L.Ed.2d 555 (1991) (Scalia, J., concurring); Johnson v. United States, 398 A.2d 354, 369 (D.C.1979). The instruction also serves to “effectuate the reasonable doubt standard” by ensuring that each juror is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the government has proved each element of the offense. Scarborough, 522 A.2d at 872 (citing Johnson v. Louisiana, 406 U.S. 356, 362, 92 S.Ct. 1620, 32 L.Ed.2d 152 (1972)). The instruction accomplishes this by telling jurors that they are required “to be in substantial agreement as to just what a defendant did as a step preliminary to determining whether the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.” Owens v. United States, 497 A.2d 1086, 1092–93 (D.C.1985). It should be given when “distinct incidents go from being different means of committing the same crime [ ] to being different crimes.” Hargrove v. United States, 55 A.3d 852, 857 (D.C.2012) (alteration in original) (quoting Williams v. United States, 981 A.2d 1224, 1228 (D.C.2009)). The failure to give a special unanimity instruction when required is error that is clear for the purpose of plain error review. See Wynn, 48 A.3d at 193; Scarborough, 522 A.2d at 871–72; see also Youssef v. United States, 27 A.3d 1202, 1208 (D.C.2011) (holding that trial court erred in denying defendant's request for special unanimity instruction).

A special unanimity instruction is not required, on the other hand, where the jury is presented “with alternative theories of criminal liability for a single incident,” Hargrove, 55 A.3d at 857, or “when a single count is charged and the facts show a continuing course of conduct, rather than a succession of clearly detached incidents.” Gray v. United States, 544 A.2d 1255, 1258 (D.C.1988). In Gray, we identified a number of factors that have been used to determine whether a course of conduct was factually16 a single incident or separate, distinct incidents. We articulated that incidents have been deemed to be factually separate: (1) when the “acts have occurred at different times and were separated by intervening events,” (2) when they occurred in different places, (3) “when the defendant has reached a fork in the road and has decided to invade a different interest,” or (4) “when the first act has come to an end and the next act is motivated by a fresh impulse.” Id. at 1257.

We pause here to clarify that while these factors may be of use, they are not dispositive. See Scarborough, 552 A.2d at 873 (“In short, the unanimity issue under a single count of an information or indictment does not turn only on whether separate criminal acts occurred at separate times (although in some cases it may); it turns, more fundamentally, on whether each act alleged under a single count was a separately cognizable incident—by reference to separate allegations and/or to separate defenses—whenever it occurred.”). Instead, they offer guideposts in resolving the central question in determining whether a special unanimity instruction was required: whether a reasonable jury “must have” agreed upon one particular set of facts as the factual predicate for the verdict or whether some jurors “could have” believed one set of facts while other jurors could have believed another. See Simms v. United States, 634 A.2d 442, 445 (D.C.1993) (“The requirement for a special unanimity instruction arises when the court cannot deduce from the record whether the jury must have agreed upon one particular set of facts.”); Scarborough, 522 A.2d at 873 (“Properly framed, then, the question is whether, on this record, some jurors reasonably could have believed [one factual predicate for an offense], while other jurors reasonably could have believed [another factual predicate].”).

That is, our inquiry focuses on the jury's perception of the evidence presented at trial. It does not focus on the defendant's choice of actions at the time of the alleged crime. In this context, it is worth pointing out that the last two factors articulated in Gray—the “fork-in-the-road” or “fresh impulse” tests—grew out of merger case law. 544 A.2d at 1257 (citing respectively Owens, 497 A.2d at 1096–97,17 and Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 303, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932)). The Fifth Amendment concern raised in merger situations of the kind addressed in Owens is whether the defendant should be punished twice for a single action. 497 A.2d at 1095. We, therefore, look to the culpability of the defendant and whether the defendant reached a “fork in the road” after which he could have abandoned his criminal enterprise, but nevertheless “decided, as a result of a new ‘impulse’ to invade a different interest.” Id. at 1095–96. Thus, we look at the crime from the defendant's perspective in resolving merger questions.

Although unanimity and merger analyses should not be conflated, see Sanchez–Rengifo v. United States, 815 A.2d 351, 358 (D.C.2002), a similar type of logical analysis as employed in the “fork-in-the-road” test may nevertheless be relevant in evaluating, from the jury's perspective, whether it was reasonable for the jury to have concluded that the defendant was involved in one continuous incident or distinct incidents. For example, such an inquiry will be useful to discern whether a jury would reasonably conclude that a defendant's actions after coming to a fork in the road is a factually distinct incident, and thereby determine whether some jurors could have returned a guilty verdict based upon actions taken before the fork and some based upon actions after the fork. It is important, however, to bear in mind that unanimity and merger inquiries must be approached from different perspectives in light of the different constitutional principles they are meant to safeguard.

Whether the failure to give a special unanimity instruction is erroneous turns on whether we can conclude, upon considering the context of the entire trial,18 that the jury was in “substantial agreement as to just what a defendant did” as the factual predicate for the verdict. Scarborough, 522 A.2d at 873; Owens, 497 A.2d at 1092–93. In other words, we look at all the circumstances of the trial to determine whether the jury could have perceived that the defendant engaged in more than one criminal act, and thus some jurors could have returned a conviction premised solely on one factual predicate and others solely on a different factual predicate.

Appellants argue that a special unanimity instruction was required in their trial because the jury could have reached non-unanimous verdicts on the charges of attempted armed burglary and ADW. This is so, they contend, because, although each appellant was indicted for a single charge of attempted armed burglary and a single charge of ADW, the evidence at trial revealed two different incidents, separated in time, each of which could be the factual predicate for the attempted armed burglary and ADW charges. The government argues that a unanimity instruction was not required because Bryant and Hagood were engaged in a single continuous criminal act. While it is true that both incidents occurred at the same apartment, involved the same parties, and took place within a relatively short time—approximately ten minutes—of each other,19 these facts alone are not determinative. See Scarborough, 552 A.2d at 873. It is significant that in this case, when the trial is viewed as a whole, the jury was presented with evidence of what the government referred to in closing as “two burglaries” and “two shootings,” and that appellants played different roles in each incident.

The government's argument has a basis in the evidence presented. The sole asserted trigger for the offenses was the hostile exchange between Hagood and Edmonds outside the apartment building. The evidence supported that appellants had a specific purpose to confront Edmonds. But a single purpose and a single criminal action are not necessarily the same thing, and this is particularly so when more than one perpetrator is involved.20 Here, the government witnesses testified that although both appellants followed Edmonds as he backed into the apartment, it was only Hagood who attempted to force his way into the apartment with the revolver, but was kept out. Then, after appellants had been outside for about ten minutes requesting to speak to Edmonds, they returned to the apartment, at which point they encountered and opened an unlocked door. Hagood—unarmed this time—walked into the apartment and toward Edmonds, while Bryant—this time holding the revolver—remained at the door. During the first incident, Hagood fired a shot through the door; during the second incident, Bryant fired a shot at the ceiling of the hall outside the apartment.

From this evidence of two confrontations and the government's characterization during closing arguments of appellants' actions as “two burglaries” and “two shootings,” the jury could reasonably have perceived two factually distinct burglaries and assaults. Some jurors could have found appellants guilty based on the first incident and some jurors could have found them guilty based on the second. For example, some jurors could have found that even if Bryant did not attempt to enter the apartment during the first incident, he aided and abetted Hagood by giving him the firearm, whereas other jurors could have found Bryant guilty based on the second incident because he was holding the firearm while standing at the door to the apartment, and then fired into the ceiling.21 The same is true for Hagood. Some jurors could have found Hagood guilty based on his forceful attempt to enter the apartment with a gun, but it was also possible that he could have been found guilty based on confronting Edmonds inside the apartment while Bryant stood guard at the door.

In determining whether a special unanimity instruction was required, we need only determine that it was possible, based on the evidence, for the jury to reasonably perceive separate incidents and then base their convictions on different factual predicates. See Wynn, 48 A.3d at 192 (concluding that the jury “could” have determined guilt based on different factual scenarios); Scarborough, 522 A.2d at 873 (noting that a special unanimity instruction is required “whenever there is evidence tending to show” separate incidents). We find that is so on this record. Accordingly, the failure to provide a special unanimity instruction sua sponte was clear error. See Wynn, 48 A.3d at 193.22

Even if the error is clear, to warrant reversal of their convictions on plain error review appellants must also demonstrate that the error affected their substantial rights and, further, that it “seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. at 193–94 (alteration in original); accord Olano, 507 U.S. at 732. If the context of the trial as a whole leads us to conclude that the jury is likely to have reached a verdict based on the same predicate facts, we cannot say that appellants' substantial rights were violated. See Wynn, 48 A.3d at 193 (noting, on plain error review, that “the most natural conclusion” was that the jury agreed on one instance of criminal conduct); cf. Scarborough, 552 A.2d at 874–75 (concluding beyond a reasonable doubt, under constitutional harmless error standard, that “no reasonable juror” could have accepted one part of defendant's version of events while rejecting another). In that examination, we do not indulge in theorizing about what the jury could have concluded that is so speculative or tortured that “no reasonable juror could have reasoned that way based on the evidence introduced at trial.” Scarborough, 552 A.2d at 874 (“[W]e are not permitted to find reversible error when the only basis for perceiving the jury's verdict was not unanimous would be that the jury acted irrationally.”). Rather, we endeavor to determine whether the entire context of the trial—the evidence introduced, the arguments of counsel, the instructions provided, and the actions of the jury—created a genuine danger that jurors, though reaching a unanimous verdict of guilt, came to their conclusion based on different factual scenarios. See Shivers v. United States, 533 A.2d 258, 263 n. 13 (D.C.1987) (noting that “federal courts consider a general unanimity instruction sufficient to insure a unanimous verdict ‘except in cases where the complexity of the evidence or other factors create a genuine danger of jury confusion’ “ (quoting United States v. Schiff, 801 F.2d 108, 114–15 (2d Cir.1986)); Owens, 497 A.2d at 1094 (finding harmless the failure to give a special unanimity instruction when there was “no rational way” for jurors to have come to a verdict predicated on different sets of fact).

Turning to appellants' trial, the jury was given a general unanimity instruction. They understood the necessity of reaching a unanimous verdict, as evidenced by their question whether an acquittal must also be unanimous. Where the jury has been so instructed, the danger of a non-unanimous verdict is reduced; we can rely on the “robust intuition and good common-sense of jurors ․ to apply the standard unanimity charge to circumstances where special unanimity problems lurk.” Shivers, 553 A.2d at 263 n. 14; see also Youssef, 27 A.3d at 1209 (reasoning that a general unanimity instruction can contribute to reducing the risk of a non-unanimous verdict). But realistically, we recognize the limits of reliance on general instructions and common sense in cases where “the complexity of the evidence or other factors create a genuine danger of jury confusion.” Shivers, 553 A.2d at 263 n. 13 (emphasis omitted). In general, there is little, if any, downside to giving a special unanimity instruction, and where the evidence, arguments, or other factors at trial provide any basis for instructing the jury of the requirement that it must be unanimous concerning the factual predicate for its verdict, the trial court would be well advised to give such an instruction.

Second, and significantly, in this case we are able to discern the factual bases for the jury's verdicts from the verdicts themselves, without engaging in speculation about the jury's thought process. Cf. Scarborough, 552 A.2d at 874 (discerning from the record the most likely and rational, and least speculative, basis for the jury's verdict). The jury convicted Hagood of destruction of property while acquitting Bryant of the same charge. During deliberations, the jury sent a note asking if a guilty verdict could be predicated on damage to the door only, or whether they could also consider the damage to the ceiling. The judge informed the jury that only damage to the door was specified in the indictment and so they could not consider damage to the ceiling for the destruction of property charge. From the jury's verdict, we know that the jury found that Hagood shot through the door during the first incident. It naturally follows that because the jury found Hagood fired the gun on that first occasion, a properly instructed jury would also have had to find Hagood culpable of ADW—it was uncontroverted that the bullet went through the door and grazed Edmonds's ankle—as well as the weapons offenses associated with the discharge of the firearm at that moment.

The natural conclusion from Bryant's acquittal on the destruction of property charge is that the jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Bryant was culpable for the discharge of the revolver during the first incident. Such doubt would have been reasonable as there was no evidence that Bryant had the gun or was at the door at that time. However, the jury's note clearly indicates that at least some jurors were considering Bryant's conduct in firing into the ceiling during the second incident and, but for the judge's instruction, were contemplating convicting him of destruction of property based upon that action. The reasonable inference is that the jury found Bryant culpable for his actions while he was armed during the second incident, and that these actions were the more likely basis for the verdict finding Bryant guilty of ADW.23 Even though the evidence sufficed to convict both appellants of ADW on either of the incidents, we think it much more natural to conclude that the jury would find guilt based on the incident in which each appellant acted as a principal in using the gun and not as an aider and abettor of the other's use of the gun.24

A similar logic applies to the likely factual bases for the guilty verdicts for attempted burglary while armed. The jury was given explicit instructions on the order in which they should consider the burglary charges. They were to consider initially “first degree burglary while armed,” then “attempted first degree burglary while armed,” then “first degree burglary unarmed,” then “attempted first degree burglary unarmed,” and finally “unlawful entry.” The jury was told to consider these offenses in the order prescribed and to not go on to the other charges once they had reached an agreement on a charge. From the jury verdicts finding both appellants guilty of attempted burglary while armed we can conclude the jury found that each appellant was armed, but did not complete the burglary.

As we have discussed above, the natural conclusion for the jury based upon the evidence presented was to find Hagood culpable of ADW based on the first incident, and Bryant culpable of ADW based on the second incident. Consistent with these findings, it would have been reasonable and natural for the jury to also find that on each of those occasions the armed appellant attempted, but did not successfully complete, the crime of burglary. In the first incident, Hagood succeeded only in getting his head, arm, and gun inside the door before he was pushed out.25 If the jury found Hagood had possession of the gun and had attempted—but failed—to gain entry into the apartment at that moment, the jury would naturally and reasonably use those facts as the predicate for finding Hagood guilty of attempted burglary while armed.

In the second incident, the testimony raised doubts as to whether Bryant actually entered the apartment, but not about whether he was armed. Lawana Mays testified that Bryant never completely made it into the apartment. She said Bryant was coming towards the interior of the apartment from the hallway with a gun that he later shot into the hallway ceiling outside the apartment, but that he was pushed out before he could enter the apartment. Edmonds, on the other hand, testified that Bryant was just inside the apartment, with his back against the door. The inconsistent accounts could well have left the jury uncertain (or at odds) as to whether Bryant entered the apartment. It was thus natural and reasonable that the jury found Bryant was armed in the second instance and had attempted—but failed—to enter the apartment.26

Based on the jury note inquiring about the factual basis for the destruction of property charge, the acquittal of Bryant for destruction of property premised on the shot through the door, and the evidence presented to the jury with respect to each appellants' actions in the first and second incidents, the most logical and natural factual predicate for the jury's guilty verdicts on the ADW and burglary charges for Hagood was the first incident, and, for Bryant, the second incident. Under the circumstances, the danger that the jury verdicts might have been based on different, non-unanimous factual predicates is lessened. See Wynn, 48 A.3d at 193 (noting it was “doubtful” that substantial rights were affected).27

Even if appellants' substantial rights were affected, we would not exercise our discretion to reverse in this case because they cannot show that the “lack of a special unanimity instruction seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. at 194 (alteration in original). Where the jury was presented “ample” evidence to support all of the possible bases for a verdict, an appellant cannot carry his burden on this prong of plain error analysis. See id.; Yousseff, 27 A.3d at 1208–09 (“Appellant cannot meet this standard given the exhaustive evidence presented at trial supporting each incident․”). In this case, the jury obviously rejected the defense's theory that the government's entire case should be disbelieved because it rested on the complainants' fabricated testimony. Even though their accounts were not entirely consistent, the same witnesses testified as to both incidents. Having chosen to credit the government witnesses, the jury had more than sufficient evidence to find Hagood and Bryant guilty for their actions during both the first and second incidents. While the right to a unanimous jury verdict is fundamental, we are satisfied that the error here was not so “particularly egregious” as to require reversal, Wheeler, 930 A.2d at 248, and that the particular circumstances of this case do not pose the type of “exceptional circumstances where a miscarriage of justice will result if we do not reverse.” Wynn, 48 A.3d at 194.28

III.

With this understanding of the most likely factual underpinnings of the verdicts, we now address appellants' other joint contention on appeal, namely, that their PFCV convictions should merge. Bryant and Hagood were each convicted of two counts of PFCV, one predicated on the attempted burglary charge and one predicated on the ADW charge. Appellants' arguments boil down to the assertion that their two respective PFCV convictions are predicated on the same single possession of a single weapon during a single crime of violence and must therefore merge. We review claims of merger de novo. See Hampleton v. United States, 10 A.3d 137, 146 (D.C.2010).

The general rule is that when the predicate offenses do not merge, separate PFCV convictions founded upon those offenses do not merge either. See Matthews v. United States, 892 A.2d 1100, 1106 (D.C.2006) (citing Stevenson v. United States, 760 A.2d 1034, 1035 (D.C.2000)). The predicate offenses here, attempted burglary while armed and ADW, do not merge. See Hanna v. United States, 666 A.2d 845, 856 (D.C.1995). However, we have fashioned a limited exception to this rule where multiple PFCV convictions “arise out of a defendant's uninterrupted possession of a single weapon during a single act of violence.” Matthews, 892 A.2d at 1106 (citing Nixon v. United States, 730 A.2d 145, 153 (D.C.1999)). As with other Fifth Amendment double jeopardy claims, to determine whether the defendant's conduct was a single act or distinct acts we employ the “fresh impulse” or “fork-in-the-road” test. Stevenson, 760 A.2d at 1037. “If at the scene of the crime the defendant can be said to have realized that he has come to a fork in the road, and nevertheless decides to invade a different interest, then his successive intentions make him subject to cumulative punishment․” Id. (quoting Spain v. United States, 665 A.2d 658, 660 (D.C.1995)).

The government urges us to apply this rule only where the criminal offenses were “wholly or nearly simultaneous.” However, Nixon and its progeny do not lend themselves to such a restricted reading of the exception. Discussing Nixon in Matthews, we noted that predicate offenses need “not necessarily [be] completed at exactly the same time.” 892 A.2d at 1107. Instead, we must look at whether the criminal transaction was a “continuous whole” such that the predicate crimes “overlapped substantially and were not independent of each other.” Id. In other words, to determine that two PFCV convictions merge it may be sufficient that the predicate offenses happened simultaneously, but simultaneity is not necessary so long as the predicate offenses were common to a single violent act and overlapped substantially. The exact time-frame is less important than whether the defendant had an opportunity during that time to reflect on whether to abandon his criminal enterprise, but nevertheless chose to invade a new and distinct interest while armed with the same weapon.

Applying these principles to the facts of this case, we conclude that each appellant's two PFCV convictions merge. As we have discussed, Hagood's two PFCV convictions were most likely premised on the burglary and ADW which occurred during the first incident. Thus, Hagood's PFCV conviction for attempted burglary is associated with his attempt to enter the apartment, which was resisted by the occupants who forced him out. This was immediately followed, seconds later, by Hagood firing the handgun through the door—the predicate offense (ADW) for his other PFCV conviction. These events unfolded in rapid succession as Hagood was following Edmonds with the gun. During this time Hagood would not have had the time to pause to reassess his situation before firing the gun in reaction to having the door closed on him. Our cases indicate that something more than a momentary interruption is required to sever the singular continuous possession of a weapon into distinct, separately punishable criminal actions. Compare, e.g., Stevenson, 760 A.2d at 1037–38 (holding PFCV convictions predicated on armed robbery and burglary charges did not merge where two armed men entered a store, spoke to the clerks, and browsed the merchandise, providing “time to reflect” whether to continue to rob the store), with Matthews, 892 A.2d at 1107 (holding PFCV convictions based on armed carjacking and armed robbery merged where, in the course of an armed carjacking the defendant decided to keep the purse of the victim, because both predicate offenses “began at the same time and were committed together by means of the same act of violence involving the same weapon”).

Likewise, Bryant's two PFCV convictions, predicated on ADW and attempted burglary during the second incident, merge. As we have discussed, the most likely factual basis is that Bryant stood at the threshold of the apartment with the gun in his hand while Hagood entered to confront Edmonds, but Bryant was quickly pushed out of the apartment, prompting the shot into the hallway ceiling outside. There was no appreciable point at which Bryant could have reconsidered his actions and yet chosen to inflict a new, distinct harm—it was all part of providing armed support for Hagood.

Having concluded that appellants' PFCV convictions merge, we remand the case for the trial court to vacate one PFCV conviction for each appellant and to allow the trial court, in its discretion, to resentence appellants accordingly. See Kitt v. United States, 904 A.2d 348, 358 (D.C.2006).29

IV.

We now turn to the balance of Bryant's arguments on appeal.

A. Judge's Questioning of Witnesses

Bryant contends that the trial judge impermissibly asked questions of the witnesses. As appellant raised no objection before the trial court, we review this claim for plain error. See Jennings v. United States, 989 A.2d 1106, 1114–15 (D.C.2010).

Bryant complains of three instances in which the judge asked government witnesses to clarify whether they were testifying that Bryant had come inside the apartment, an element of burglary. First, on direct examination, Bostic testified that Bryant was “on the ledge” of the door to the apartment. The prosecutor asked her to place a marker on an exhibit to indicate where Bryant was standing. After Bostic placed the maker on the photograph, the judge asked Bostic if Bryant “was inside the apartment or outside the apartment.” Bostic replied, “He was kind of just like standing right there, he wasn't all the way inside, he was just standing like on the ledge. Kind of like halfway in, but he wasn't all the way in .” Second, after Edmonds testified that Bryant “was holding the door like this” the judge asked Edmonds, “Holding the door like what?” Edmonds stated, “Like this, with his back against the door .” The judge clarified, “So, he was inside the apartment with his back against the door?” Edmonds answered affirmatively. Third, in attempting to demonstrate in court where Bryant was in relation to the threshold of the apartment, the prosecutor asked Lawana Mays to tell him when he was in the same relationship to a line on the courtroom floor as Bryant was to the apartment's threshold. In attempting to make a record, the following exchange occurred:

The Court: The record should reflect that the prosecutor's standing outside the line.

The Prosecutor: Outside the line?

The Witness: About like this.

The Court: Okay. He's got his toe on the line.

The Prosecutor: All right.

The Court: But did he come into the apartment?

The Witness: He didn't actually make it completely in but he was close enough where we had to push him out.

A judge is permitted to ask questions of witnesses so long as she does not assume a partisan role. See Jennings, 989 A.2d at 1115. The judge may “permissibly illuminate the witness's testimony” so long as the questions asked “in no way jeopardized the appellant's presumption of innocence ․ or improperly suggested to the prosecutor tactics he had not considered.” Johnson v. United States, 613 A.2d 888, 895–96 (D.C.1992) (citations omitted). In each instance of which Bryant complains, the trial judge was clarifying for the record demonstrations or actions performed in court pursuant to inquiries the prosecutor had initiated. The judge did not exceed the proper bounds of the judicial role. In any event, Bryant cannot demonstrate prejudice because he was convicted of attempted armed burglary instead of the completed crime. The clarification of the witnesses' testimony on whether or not he fully entered the apartment was either to his advantage or did not prejudice him.

B. Self–Defense Instruction

Bryant contends that the trial judge erred by not sua sponte instructing the jury on self-defense. His claim of self-defense is premised on the fact that Bryant fired the gun at the ceiling only after Marshall and Mays “attacked” him, showing that he “did nothing to precipitate the attack, and that the government witnesses were the first aggressors.”30

A defendant is “entitled to a self-defense instruction if the evidence, either that of the defense or prosecution, fairly raises the issue.” Hernandez v. United States, 853 A.2d 202, 205 (D.C.2004) (quoting Guillard v. United States, 596 A.2d 60, 63 (D.C.1991)). Conversely, a defendant is not entitled to a self-defense instruction if he “deliberately places himself in a position where he has reason to believe his presence would ․ provoke trouble.” Howard v. United States, 656 A.2d 1106, 1111 (D.C.1995) (internal quotation marks and alterations omitted) (quoting Mitchell v. United States, 399 A.2d 866, 869 (D.C.1979)). Bryant's return to the apartment with a gun in his hand on the second occasion, after it was clear the occupants would object, precipitated the physical confrontation. As such, he was not entitled to a self-defense instruction.31 See id. (“[T]he degree of initiative appellants had taken in creating the confrontation precluded a claim of self-defense.”).

C. Carrying a Pistol Without a License

Bryant asserts that his convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm and CPWL merge. We have recently addressed a similar contention and held that these are “separate and distinct” offenses. Snell v. United States, 68 A.3d 689, 694 (D.C.2013). As such, a defendant may be convicted and sentenced for both offenses and the sentences may run consecutively. Id. Bryant also claims that because the District of Columbia no longer licenses firearms, the prohibition against carrying a pistol without a license is constitutionally infirm. We addressed this question head-on in Snell and concluded the statute was valid and enforceable, id. at 691–93, a decision we are not at liberty to revisit here. See M.A.P. v. Ryan, 285 A.2d 310, 312 (D.C.1971) .32

* * *

For the foregoing reasons, we remand for the trial court to merge appellants' PFCV convictions and to resentence appellants as the court, in its discretion, may find appropriate. In all other respects, the convictions are affirmed.